Help me, I'm an addict

This has happened so gradually and now I don't know how to stop it. I had a major car accident about 1.5 years ago and had surgery on my back. It was bad. I have screws and plates in there. So my doctor prescribed me vicodin to manage the pain. And I've been on it ever since and realize that I am addicted. I don't know what to do.

I am on disability and stay home with our two children. One is 2 and the other is 3. Without the vicodin I can't do anything, I just have to stay in bed and rest. I've been trying to get off of it for health reasons and just because I don't want to be on drugs all my life, but I have withdrawl symptoms when I try. That's how I know I must be addicted.

We can't afford rehab. My DH can't stay home with our DC and we don't have anyone else to help. What can I do? And even if I manage to kick it, what will I do to manage the pain? I'm going to see a pain specialist soon so maybe there will be something we can do for that. But how do I withdraw when I have to take care of my kids?

I know anon accounts aren't popular around here but I need help and maybe someone out there will have advice.

Comments (60)

You are fooling yourself if you think you are being a complete mother to your children. You need to change your perspective into how can you possibly be a good mother while you are an addict. I think you probably need detox. I'd say just get a pill cutter and taper off slowly but that probably won't work. How many are you taking per day?

I don't see how you can stop taking it right now if it's your only source of comfort from the pain. I would see the pain specialist first and get on a management plan and then maybe he can help wean you off the Vicodin.

I was addicted to hydrocodone for a year. I quit slowly. I'd cut down by half a pill a day. You'll have withdrawl symptoms. Mine were mainly exhaustion, irritablity and restless legs. It was the hardest thing I've ever done and I thought about giving up on quitting a lot. It took about two weeks to start feeling normal. It felt amazing to be clean tho. Its been over a year since I quit and, sometimes I still crave the high.

Mine was related to a back injury. I had easy access to meds if I ran out of my script because my dh had a botched back surgery and is on them. He is, still on them and sometimes I look at the bottle wanting one but I always resist.

Hugs op, its a hard thing to do but its worth it

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"you just turned 23! omg sometimes I forget some of you are so young! I want to carry you around in an Ergo-deputy 1079

And I am a much better mother when I'm on painkillers because I can function. It doesn't get me "high" like it would for people who don't have the pain and tolerance I have. But, I need something that isn't addictive. This can't go on.

I am thinking of suggestions, but have a few questions? Have you increased your dosage? Do you buy extra pills besides what is prescribed to you? Have you gotten an RX for the past 1.5 years? Have you talked to the doctor about it?

OP, you said it's unbearable pain and can't physically function if you don't have pain management, right? Then you need to get into the pain specialist for a plan, first, before stopping the Vicodin cold turkey.

You may not have to do a full on rehab, you may just be able to go to a detox center to help you start getting clean. They will be able to help you with the withdrawl symptoms. If you don't want to go that route I second cutting back slowly. A family member of mine is going through that right now. It is hard but he is taking it little by little. Also, look into a pain specialist, they have other methods besides narcotics to help you. Good luck OP.